Degrees and Certificates

Graduate

PhD in Linguistics

The PhD in linguistics trains students in the science of language. Students become specialists in the core areas of linguistics — phonology, syntax, and semantics — and learn to integrate this core with the study of second language acquisition. This 72-credit degree program prepares students for positions in academia, industry, and government working in a host of organizations that are concerned with language and second language acquisition. 

PhD student handbook

PhD in Writing and Rhetoric

George Mason's doctoral program in Writing and Rhetoric offers a curriculum that emphasizes theoretical, practical, and productive approaches to writing in organizations and in public spaces. Our program is built on the premise that writing and teaching in twenty-first century organizations requires the rigorous, integrated study of rhetoric, technology, culture, and research methodologies.

MFA in Creative Writing

Founded in 1980, Mason's MFA program boasts a national reputation with internationally recognized faculty who you will work with to develop your literary art. In addition to being regularly published, our faculty are active members in organizations like PEN/Faulkner, the Academy of American Poets, and the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, which are exactly the associations you need to sustain a vibrant writerly life. This 48-credit-hour, residential program offers concentrations in three genres--fiction, nonfiction, and poetry--and is typically completed in three years. The curriculum is designed to deliver a balance of scholarship and production with a generous amount of electives so that students can chart a path through the program that both adheres to our tradition and is unique to them. Mason Creative Writing, coupled with Watershed Lit: Center for Literary Engagement and Publishing Practice, is a center of literary arts and publishing practice, and its graduates emerge as exceptional artists who are prepared for a variety of professional directions. 

Cultural Studies concentration in the MA in English

The master's degree in English with a concentration in cultural studies consists of courses in literature (defined to include film, media, folklore, and literary and cultural theory as well as more traditional forms of literature) with expanded requirements in theory and cultural studies.  Students planning to apply to the PhD program in Cultural Studies at George Mason who have not already earned an MA should pursue this concentration.  Consult http://culturalstudies.gmu.edu for more information about the PhD program.

MA in English

With concentrations in Literature, Cultural Studies, Linguistics, Professional and Technical Writing, and the Teaching of Writing and Literature, the Mason English department offers master's degrees aimed to meet a wide range of intellectual and professional needs and interests.  Graduate certificates may be combined with these programs to add additional areas of specialization, with courses counting toward both the degree program and the certificate when requirements overlap.  

Folklore Studies concentration in the MA in English

The MA in English with a concentration in Folklore Studies offers students opportunities to explore folklore both globally and locally. Faculty in the program work in diverse geographies including Africa, China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as Appalachia and the vibrant cultures that comprise the Washington, D.C. region. You will also learn about both contemporary and historical folk cultures. Award-winning faculty in the program regularly receive grants for folklore research in which you will have an opportunity to participate.

Linguistics concentration in the MA in English

The master's degree in English with a concentration in linguistics is theoretically oriented and provides a solid foundation in the major subfields of linguistics: phonology, syntax, and semantics. It requires 30 credits and can be earned on a part-time basis in two years.

Literature concentration in the MA in English

This program consists of courses in literature (defined to include film, media, folklore, and literary and cultural theory) as well as required courses in research methods and literary theory.  Students may choose to write a master's thesis or complete a capstone project, or they may choose to complete their requirements by taking additional literature courses.

Professional and Technical Writing concentration in the MA in English

The MA in English with a concentration in professional and technical writing is oriented to workplace uses of language. In addition to the training in pragmatic skills offered, the concentration is characterized by a self-reflexive attention to workplaces as institutions. Courses on research and theory in nonfiction writing complement instruction in editing, technical writing, digital publication, and other current practices to prepare students for roles as writers and editors in the private and public sectors. Instruction in research methodologies melds archival research with the most current technological advances to equip students with valuable research tools and strategies, while courses in literature, media studies, folklore, and linguistics provide insight into language and writing practices across a variety of contexts.

Teaching of Writing and Literature concentration in the MA in English

At the core of this program are courses on teaching literature and teaching composition, reinforced by courses in literature, writing, linguistics, and composition theory.  The program offers practicing educators the opportunity to renew knowledge and envision new paths as instructors; students new to the field will benefit from an array of perspectives afforded by its breadth.

Accelerated MA in English (Concentration in Folklore Studies)

Accelerated MA in English (Concentration in Linguistics)

An accelerated master's degree program is available to highly qualified undergraduates in any major at George Mason. Students accepted to this program complete some graduate coursework as part of their undergraduate degree program. They can earn both a bachelor’s degree in their chosen major and a master’s degree in English with a concentration in linguistics by completing 144 credits, often within five years.

Graduate Certificate in College Teaching (Offered by English Department)

This certificate is for graduate students planning a career in post-secondary education. It offers courses that develop pedagogical skills, explore pedagogical assessment or scholarship, and enhance the use of technology in instruction.

Graduate Certificate in Folklore Studies

Graduate Certificate in Linguistics: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The graduate certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) is an 18-credit program that focuses on the applied aspects of English linguistics. This program offers courses in  English phonetics, English grammar, second language acquisition, teaching ESL, and a practicum.

Graduate Certificate in Literature and Composition

Graduate Certificate in Professional and Technical Writing

Graduate Certificate in Publishing Practice

Undergraduate

Creative Writing concentration in the BA in English

The Creative Writing concentration is designed for students who wish to devote a considerable portion of their work in English to the writing of poetry or fiction (or both). Students fulfill the requirements for this concentration by taking four writing courses, ideally including either the Advanced Fiction Writing workshop and/or the Advanced Poetry Writing workshop. 

Cultural Studies concentration in the BA in English

The concentration in Cultural Studies provides an interdisciplinary course of study that attempts to question and understand how cultural objects of all kinds-texts, technologies, and institutions, for example-are related to particular social and historical circumstances. Whether focused on recent or past forms of cultural life, work in Cultural Studies examines the interrelationships between large social and economic structures, and local and individual identities.

BA in English

Mason’s English degree is not a conventional one. As an English major, you can study the poetry of Milton and learn to write digital poetry. You can specialize in Renaissance literature or modern world literature. You can take courses on the folklore of Mexico or the films of Bollywood. You can learn about traditional rhetorical strategies and how they have been adapted to the Internet age.

Folklore and Mythology concentration in the BA in English

The Folklore and Mythology concentration offers students the opportunity to study oral literature and traditional artifacts in their historical, cultural and performance contexts. Study in folklore addresses secular tales, songs, proverbs, jokes and material culture items as they are performed within and among cultural groups. Mythology explores the texts of the sacred, of the creation, initiation, transformation and destruction of a people. Courses also address the study of folklore and mythology in literature.

Linguistics concentration in the BA in English

The Linguistics concentration is theoretically oriented and provides a solid foundation in the major subfields of linguistics: phonology, syntax, and semantics. As part of their English degree, students who choose this concentration take an introductory course in linguistics and three additional courses chosen from a wide range of electives.

Literature concentration in the BA in English

The Literature concentration provides a rigorous course of study in literatures and cultures from the medieval period through the present day. Students may organize their concentration around a specific genre, historical period, theme, or national literature.

Screen Cultures concentration in the BA in English

The Screen Cultures concentration provides formal, historical and theoretical frameworks for the understanding and appreciation of visual cultures. The introductory course to film studies focuses on formal characteristics and vocabulary of film, with attention to its historical and ideological dimensions. Advanced courses build on this foundation, exploring a variety of genres, national and other cinemas, historical periods and recent developments in technology and categorization.

Writing and Rhetoric concentration in the BA in English

The Writing and Rhetoric concentration is designed for students who want to write publishable nonfiction books and articles, study writing and technology, or who are interested in professional writing or editing and publishing. Students may choose from several courses that provide instruction and guided practice in diverse types of nonfiction prose including technical and report writing, web writing, ethnography, and various forms of essay writing. They may also take introductory courses in professional editing and computer-assisted publishing.

BFA in Creative Writing

Minor in Community and Public Writing

Minor in Digital Media and Web Design (CHSS)

Minor in Dynamic Publishing

Minor in English

The Minor in English provides students with a strong background in writing and critical thinking and will also introduce them to significant literary and cultural documents.

Minor in Folklore and Mythology

The minor in Folklore and Mythology is interdisciplinary and offers students tools to explore the compelling meanings within these seemingly simple, everyday cultural texts, and helps them become more aware of the ways these texts are used by individuals and institutions for various goals. Students study folklore and mythology by juxtaposing the multiple viewpoints of anthropology, art history, classical studies, literary studies, and religious studies.

Minor in Linguistics

The minor in linguistics is a 15-credit program that can be combined with a major in any field of study. Students take two linguistics courses, which introduce them to the fundamental concepts of modern linguistic theory. They choose three electives from a wide range of options, which allow them explore how these concepts relate to various other disciplines.

Minor in Medieval Studies

The Middle Ages has had a powerful, long-lasting effect on cultures worldwide. A medieval studies curriculum enables students to discover just how much of our modern world can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The Minor Program in Medieval Studies has been designed as an interdisciplinary minor, to reflect the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the field of Medieval Studies and to best prepare students to develop a complex understanding of the period.

Minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies

The Native American and Indigenous Studies minor will help students think critically and respectfully about the complex dynamics of Native American cultures, considered both individually and comparatively. Students in this interdisciplinary minor will learn how value systems operate in different cultures, examine the roots of conflict and resolution across a broad historical and cultural spectrum, better understand the importance of language as a means of cultural expression, and heighten their appreciation of the unique status of present-day Native American tribes as nations with certain sovereign powers within the boundaries of the United States.

Minor in Professional and Technical Writing

The minor in professional writing provides students with opportunities to learn and apply advanced strategies for writing academic, professional, and civic documents. Students examine the theoretical, interdisciplinary, and professional aspects of writing and develop their expository, persuasive, organizational, and stylistic skills through close analysis of rhetorical situations and the features and approaches of successful writing. The strong communication and analytical skills developed while earning this minor contribute to student success in a wide variety of professional careers as well as graduate education.

Minor in Screen Cultures

The minor in Screen Cultures explores mass culture in its visual manifestations and helps students develop an informed awareness of culture and media, ideological tendencies, and effects on daily experience. Committed to interdisciplinary studies, the program addresses the increasing complexity and multiplicity of visual cultures and offers students the tools with which to read a variety of texts, including film, television, video, and new media.

Minor in Teaching English as a Second Language

The undergraduate minor in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) introduces students to the issues involved in the learning and teaching of English to speakers of other languages. The minor in TESOL is an 18-credit hour program that combines linguistic theory, second language acquisition theory, and ESL teaching methods. This minor is a good preparation for students who are interested in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in a foreign country or at an adult ESL center in the United States.